schmittie
Gold Member
- Joined
- Nov 28, 2009
- Messages
- 2,968
Howdy guys. If its ok, I'd like to tell you about my recent experience, stepping outside of my usual comfort zone.
Like many of you, I'm a knife enthusiast. I grew up collecting and using different knives over the years and my tastes have changed. When I was younger, a knife just seamed cool. As I grew older, a knife became an incredible tool. Currently, I'd describe myself as an average outdoors man, camper, fisherman, hunter. In many areas, I'd say I'm still learning. Call me the rookie if you will, I can deal with it.
I've been deer hunting for a few years now. I wish I could say that I've got so much time on my hands that I don't have enough wall in my home to hang the trophies I've acquired. I'd love to say that, but it wouldn't be even close to the truth. (I'm just tryin to be honest here) This year is only the second deer I've harvested. For many years, friends and workmates have encouraged me to butcher my own deer, when I get the chance. I've always declined, especially last year with my first deer, just an average sized Illinois doe. This year, things went a little different.
So far, my best opportunity for deer hunting here in the Midwest is the late winter antlerless season. For what it's worth, I'm not in it for the trophy, I just want to put meat on the table. Last year I took my deer to a butcher. This year I listened to everyone else. Here is where I'd like to introduce you to my Hunter:
About 7 months ago I purchased this Fiddleback Forge Hunter from the Exchange forum. I really wanted some time to pass before I expressed my impression of it.
Don't get me wrong. I've used it plenty. Its been with me camping. Helped me start many fires. Batoned plenty of wood for the last few months and made quite a few feather sticks. Honestly, I've done that stuff guys. And to me, it just doesn't seem to be such a good "test" of a knife. I'm not about to slice some cheese and sausage and tell you all what an awesome knife I think I have. That would just seem like false praise or jumpin the gun. I'd rather spend some time with a tool, using it again and again, before offering my opinion.
Well, that gets me back to this last weekends' deer hunt. I ended up with a small button buck. (hey, it's better than nothing) Since it was smaller in size, I was comfortable in attempting to butcher it myself. Before we get any farther, I apologize for not having any real work in progress pictures. I tried, but my phone was just too dead. That is the price you have to pay for being out of the nearest cell tower. I do have to tell you one thing though: I know lots of knives can field dress an animal with no problem. But my FB Hunter impressed all the guys I was with. When we drug my deer down to the nearest, thawed creek, over an over again I heard the same comment while I was field dressing: "Wow that knife is sharp!" "Holy cow, that thing is sharp!!" "Man, where did you get that thing!?" I wish I had pics, but all is not lost. I do have some pics of the aftermath:
I ended up home very late Saturday night and since I didn't know what I was doing I hurried up and skinned and quartered my deer that night. I had more meat that I thought and filled a few bins. One boneless, one with the legs.
I have to say how much I was impressed with this knife. The handle on this one is Shadetree burlap. I was very happy with it. I wouldn't say that it is a rough textured grip. But amazingly enough, the more dirty and bloody it got, the more it stuck to my hand. Don't ask me why. I didn't make it. All I know is it stuck to my hand like glue. And since I'm not the most experienced butcher, I know I ended up doing things that you just shouldn't do. For example, at one point I was frustrated with trying to get one of the rear legs off the animal, so I just started chopping with this thing like it was a hatchet. I was attempting to chop at the joint, but ended up chunking out some bone in the process. I'm proud to say that never once did I roll or chip the edge. In fact, after skinning, boning and slicing much of this deer, I can still cut paper. (come on, not perfectly. i'm still gonna have to strop this thing. what were you expecting?!)
Over all, I'm really impressed with Andy Roy's Hunter. The HT is incredible. It holds and edge and stands up to anything, and ends up laughing at it and you. Every one of my experienced hunter friends (one has been an outfitter here for a LONG time) were very, very impressed.
For me, this has been an experience outside of my typical comfort zone. The fact that I was impressed is nice. The fact that so many others were impressed, well lets just call that the icing on the cake.
I guess all that I'm trying to do is encourage you guys to use your favorite knives. No I don't mean bring it into the kitchen to slice up some cheese or bread. I mean USE your knife. If it really is your favorite, then prove it. Prove it to yourself. Have some real confidence in what you call your favorite tool. I know I really do now. I'm even willing to sell some of my other knives to make sure I have enough user time with this FB. Anything less just wouldn't be fair.
FIDDLEBACK RULES!!
Like many of you, I'm a knife enthusiast. I grew up collecting and using different knives over the years and my tastes have changed. When I was younger, a knife just seamed cool. As I grew older, a knife became an incredible tool. Currently, I'd describe myself as an average outdoors man, camper, fisherman, hunter. In many areas, I'd say I'm still learning. Call me the rookie if you will, I can deal with it.
I've been deer hunting for a few years now. I wish I could say that I've got so much time on my hands that I don't have enough wall in my home to hang the trophies I've acquired. I'd love to say that, but it wouldn't be even close to the truth. (I'm just tryin to be honest here) This year is only the second deer I've harvested. For many years, friends and workmates have encouraged me to butcher my own deer, when I get the chance. I've always declined, especially last year with my first deer, just an average sized Illinois doe. This year, things went a little different.
So far, my best opportunity for deer hunting here in the Midwest is the late winter antlerless season. For what it's worth, I'm not in it for the trophy, I just want to put meat on the table. Last year I took my deer to a butcher. This year I listened to everyone else. Here is where I'd like to introduce you to my Hunter:
About 7 months ago I purchased this Fiddleback Forge Hunter from the Exchange forum. I really wanted some time to pass before I expressed my impression of it.
Don't get me wrong. I've used it plenty. Its been with me camping. Helped me start many fires. Batoned plenty of wood for the last few months and made quite a few feather sticks. Honestly, I've done that stuff guys. And to me, it just doesn't seem to be such a good "test" of a knife. I'm not about to slice some cheese and sausage and tell you all what an awesome knife I think I have. That would just seem like false praise or jumpin the gun. I'd rather spend some time with a tool, using it again and again, before offering my opinion.
Well, that gets me back to this last weekends' deer hunt. I ended up with a small button buck. (hey, it's better than nothing) Since it was smaller in size, I was comfortable in attempting to butcher it myself. Before we get any farther, I apologize for not having any real work in progress pictures. I tried, but my phone was just too dead. That is the price you have to pay for being out of the nearest cell tower. I do have to tell you one thing though: I know lots of knives can field dress an animal with no problem. But my FB Hunter impressed all the guys I was with. When we drug my deer down to the nearest, thawed creek, over an over again I heard the same comment while I was field dressing: "Wow that knife is sharp!" "Holy cow, that thing is sharp!!" "Man, where did you get that thing!?" I wish I had pics, but all is not lost. I do have some pics of the aftermath:
I ended up home very late Saturday night and since I didn't know what I was doing I hurried up and skinned and quartered my deer that night. I had more meat that I thought and filled a few bins. One boneless, one with the legs.
I have to say how much I was impressed with this knife. The handle on this one is Shadetree burlap. I was very happy with it. I wouldn't say that it is a rough textured grip. But amazingly enough, the more dirty and bloody it got, the more it stuck to my hand. Don't ask me why. I didn't make it. All I know is it stuck to my hand like glue. And since I'm not the most experienced butcher, I know I ended up doing things that you just shouldn't do. For example, at one point I was frustrated with trying to get one of the rear legs off the animal, so I just started chopping with this thing like it was a hatchet. I was attempting to chop at the joint, but ended up chunking out some bone in the process. I'm proud to say that never once did I roll or chip the edge. In fact, after skinning, boning and slicing much of this deer, I can still cut paper. (come on, not perfectly. i'm still gonna have to strop this thing. what were you expecting?!)
Over all, I'm really impressed with Andy Roy's Hunter. The HT is incredible. It holds and edge and stands up to anything, and ends up laughing at it and you. Every one of my experienced hunter friends (one has been an outfitter here for a LONG time) were very, very impressed.
For me, this has been an experience outside of my typical comfort zone. The fact that I was impressed is nice. The fact that so many others were impressed, well lets just call that the icing on the cake.
I guess all that I'm trying to do is encourage you guys to use your favorite knives. No I don't mean bring it into the kitchen to slice up some cheese or bread. I mean USE your knife. If it really is your favorite, then prove it. Prove it to yourself. Have some real confidence in what you call your favorite tool. I know I really do now. I'm even willing to sell some of my other knives to make sure I have enough user time with this FB. Anything less just wouldn't be fair.
FIDDLEBACK RULES!!
). I used several different knives this year to butcher deer, I butchered 10 deer this year all together. I have come to the point where I have different knives dedicated to different things in the process from field to freezer. I have alot of knives that can do it all easily, I just like giving them all a job to do so they dont feel left out 
